HD DVD officially dead. Universal and Paramount going Blu.
02-25-08, 12:46 PM
#453
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by bunkaroo
I'll believe it when I have my Braveheart and Chinatown Blu-Ray's - two recent SCE DVD's that surely should have had day and date HD releases as well.
If PS3 won the format war for the BDA, it also doomed us to a ghetto of movies that largely appeal to that player base. The studios appear to be after the PS3 game players, males 18-35, and classic early tech adopters, males 35-50.
Thus, we see the line-up of catalog films that almost excessively feature CGI, science fiction, special effects, sports, or action at a ratio of 3:1.
I, personally, am looking forward to some of the above. But I am just as excited by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, and Passage to India.
Kudos to Warner for putting out more diverse release lists. I am sure they could put out more lucrative movies but have chosen to show some passion for the business they are in -- and don't forgo it for sheer gross receipts.
-beebs
02-25-08, 12:51 PM
#454
Moderator
Originally Posted by beebs
Why is that? The studios are apparently complaining about the way HDM buyers ignore many catalog titles. I suspect comedies also don't sell well either. I do not find it surprising that Chinatown was glossed over (I bought the SD DVD release, myself). Braveheart seems like a better, but not good, fit for the HDM buying masses.
If PS3 won the format war for the BDA, it also doomed us to a ghetto of movies that largely appeal to that player base. The studios appear to be after the PS3 game players, males 18-35, and classic early tech adopters, males 35-50.
Thus, we see the line-up of catalog films that almost excessively feature CGI, science fiction, special effects, sports, or action at a ratio of 3:1.
I, personally, am looking forward to some of the above. But I am just as excited by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, and Passage to India.
Kudos to Warner for putting out more diverse release lists. I am sure they could put out more lucrative movies but have chosen to show some passion for the business they are in -- and don't forgo it for sheer gross receipts.
-beebs
If PS3 won the format war for the BDA, it also doomed us to a ghetto of movies that largely appeal to that player base. The studios appear to be after the PS3 game players, males 18-35, and classic early tech adopters, males 35-50.
Thus, we see the line-up of catalog films that almost excessively feature CGI, science fiction, special effects, sports, or action at a ratio of 3:1.
I, personally, am looking forward to some of the above. But I am just as excited by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, and Passage to India.
Kudos to Warner for putting out more diverse release lists. I am sure they could put out more lucrative movies but have chosen to show some passion for the business they are in -- and don't forgo it for sheer gross receipts.
-beebs
02-25-08, 01:04 PM
#455
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by beebs
Why is that?
Paramount is the only major studio who seems to have halted catalog releases on HDM.
Was Run Lola Run a better choice for the "PS3 crowd"?
You also named three great titles coming to Blu-Ray that don't fit the typical "PS3 crowd" type of title.
Braveheart and Chinatown are prestigious titles for Paramount. Braveheart won 5 Oscars including Best Director and Best Picture. I think that's enough to warrant an HD release when it's obvious a new transfer was just done.
02-25-08, 01:07 PM
#456
Suspended
Originally Posted by Giles
and then you look at a studio like Fox, that seems completely clueless.
Titles like Casablanca, Grand Prix, Forbidden Planet and Adventures of Robin Hood could have been released on Blu-ray at the same time as HD DVD, but maybe Warner knew they would not be big sellers on a format that is primarily played on a PS3? They sold poorly on HD DVD, I cant imagine sales on Blu-ray when it simply does not fit the demographic.
02-25-08, 01:09 PM
#457
Suspended
Originally Posted by bunkaroo
Paramount is the only major studio who seems to have halted catalog releases on HDM.
Actually...is that really it for catalog titles since they went HD DVD exclusive? I can't even think of any other titles besides maybe Zodiac which is more towards a newer release then catalog.Not only did that have a great chance to release Braveheart, but Shrek I and Shrek II as well.
02-25-08, 01:14 PM
#458
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Obviously you are forgetting they released Anchorman and Old Skool Actually...is that really it for catalog titles since they went HD DVD exclusive? I can't even think of any other titles besides maybe Zodiac which is more towards a newer release then catalog.
Not only did that have a great chance to release Braveheart, but Shrek I and Shrek II as well.
Actually...is that really it for catalog titles since they went HD DVD exclusive? I can't even think of any other titles besides maybe Zodiac which is more towards a newer release then catalog.Not only did that have a great chance to release Braveheart, but Shrek I and Shrek II as well.
EDIT: Okay one - Zodiac.
Since it's a new cut, is it still considered catalog?
Last edited by bunkaroo; 02-25-08 at 01:18 PM.
02-25-08, 01:22 PM
#459
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Originally Posted by bunkaroo
Was Run Lola Run a better choice for the "PS3 crowd"?
The whole PS3 argument is as laughable as they come. SONY has been pushing the envelope with diverse films more than any other studio releasing at this point (from Volver to The Lives of Others to Immortal Beloved to the just reannounced Saawariya, etc). They also have some very impressive classics coming out this year (On the Waterfornt).
The notion that BR is controlled by the PS3 crowd (?) while all of the serious film buffs are/were on the other side, just as a famous poll on this site desired to prove, is frankly off.
The reality is that, just as it was the case with early DVD sales, the classics so many are concerned with do not bode well with early adopters. If the early HDDVD owners were so much more sophisticated and versed in serious cinema then those same classics would have sold well. They did not.
Ciao,
Pro-B
Last edited by pro-bassoonist; 02-25-08 at 01:24 PM.
02-25-08, 01:28 PM
#460
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by Giles
and then you look at a studio like Fox, that seems completely clueless.
-beebs
02-25-08, 01:47 PM
#461
Moderator
Originally Posted by beebs
Fox is not clueless, they simply will not venture far from the gross receipts playbook. Look at the top movie grossers of all time -- Fox has released nearly all their movies from the top 300 (less Star Wars, which I am sure is not in their control). I predict they will announce/release the handful missing in the next 6-9 months.
-beebs
-beebs
wake me up when they do.
02-25-08, 02:32 PM
#462
Originally Posted by DVD Polizei
Well, it's a good point GizmoDVD made. Paramount has proven history of putting out few titles. Why should they change now? What is their motive for producing more titles within a smaller period of time?
Like GizmoDVD, I'll believe it when I see it. It has nothing to do with being Anti-Positive Blu-Ray News. It has everything to do with the movie studio and what their intentions are (as well as history).
Maybe Paramount knows in the near future, they will make more profits of off Blu-ray discs due to...prices. So, yeah, maybe Bill is right.
Until then, we simply won't know until Paramount acts.
Like GizmoDVD, I'll believe it when I see it. It has nothing to do with being Anti-Positive Blu-Ray News. It has everything to do with the movie studio and what their intentions are (as well as history).
Maybe Paramount knows in the near future, they will make more profits of off Blu-ray discs due to...prices. So, yeah, maybe Bill is right.
Until then, we simply won't know until Paramount acts.
02-25-08, 03:08 PM
#464
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Not sure if anyone has brought this yet or not, but I don't think the HD-DVD format will be going away anytime soon. Yes all of the movie studios are backing Blu, but HD-DVD is a more viable solution for Archiving on a PC. Samsung has promised to continue making HD / Blu combo drives for the PC so for those of us with an HTPC, this is a great way to get into HD.
I just picked up a 60.00 Xbox Drive which I will run in my HTPC and somewhere down the line, I wil get a combo drive.
I just picked up a 60.00 Xbox Drive which I will run in my HTPC and somewhere down the line, I wil get a combo drive.
02-25-08, 03:39 PM
#465
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist
Indeed.
The whole PS3 argument is as laughable as they come. SONY has been pushing the envelope with diverse films more than any other studio releasing at this point (from Volver to The Lives of Others to Immortal Beloved to the just reannounced Saawariya, etc). They also have some very impressive classics coming out this year (On the Waterfornt).
The whole PS3 argument is as laughable as they come. SONY has been pushing the envelope with diverse films more than any other studio releasing at this point (from Volver to The Lives of Others to Immortal Beloved to the just reannounced Saawariya, etc). They also have some very impressive classics coming out this year (On the Waterfornt).
You bring up Sony and don't mention 20 Million Miles to Earth? That plus Immortal Beloved (1995), Big Fish (2003) and Seven Years in Tibet (1997) are about it for the studios gutsy catalog releases so far. What is amazing is that this is pretty good for a studio on Blu-ray.
Look at a partial list of the movies Sony has from owning the Columbia Pictures library, the list at IMDB. How many movies have they released from before 1990? Look at that link. It's mind-bottling!
The PS3 effect, if you ask me, has more to do with current releases than with catalog. It is, after all, current movies that the PS3 crowd are into -- not movies, even action flicks, from 10+ years ago. In my mind, this is why we have a 2-disc release of Hitman.
-beebs
02-25-08, 03:45 PM
#466
Suspended
Originally Posted by bunkaroo
There was Face/Off at the end of October. Would have been Jack Ryan as well if, well, you know. And the two you mentioned were DW, which I know is splitting hairs, but still, it's been almost 4 months since a Paramount branded catalog title on HDM. Sad.
EDIT: Okay one - Zodiac. Since it's a new cut, is it still considered catalog?
EDIT: Okay one - Zodiac.
Since it's a new cut, is it still considered catalog? You are right! Those are Dreamworks titles. So Paramount never released a single catalog title on HD DVD that was not already planned (Face/Off was planned for both, as was Jack Ryan IIRC). Wow, talk about a craptacular studio. Sucks that Jack Ryan will most likely be "pulled" again...My Wal-Mart still has the 4 Pack for sale, but can't sell it. They also tell me no then put it back on the shelf. Idiots.As for Zodiac...it is still a catalog title, just like any other film would be if it got a "directors cut" or something. Still, a newer one though as we never got the announced but canceled Theatrical cut.
02-25-08, 05:14 PM
#470
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist
Indeed.
The whole PS3 argument is as laughable as they come. SONY has been pushing the envelope with diverse films
The whole PS3 argument is as laughable as they come. SONY has been pushing the envelope with diverse films
I will give Sony credit though. Life of Brian and 20 Million Miles to Earth were great catalog titles and they did a wonderful job on both. Can't wait for On The Waterfront and Lawrence of Arabia.
Now that the format war is over I think the PS3 effect will be lessened. During the first year they had to market more towards the PS3 crowd because so many mainstream DVD buyers were hesitant to jump aboard and the video game crowd was the biggest share of owners, but with the war over I see them really putting out a wide array of films to try and draw in the masses. There are also a ton of standalones on the way so I'm no longer worried about this being a format just for game console owners.
02-25-08, 05:59 PM
#472
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Looks like Paramount has officially announced There will be Blood for Blu-ray. http://www.hollywoodinhighdef.com/ (backed by BD studios) has the trailer up and at the end there was a graphic that said on dvd and Blu-ray. Thanks for the prophetic words jiggawhat!
Last edited by tonymontana313; 02-25-08 at 07:48 PM.
02-25-08, 06:27 PM
#474
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Originally Posted by tonymontana313
Looks like Paramount has officially announced There will be Blood for Blu-ray. Hollywoodinhighdef.com (backed by BD studios) has the trailer up and at the end there was a graphic that said on dvd and Blu-ray. Thanks for the prophetic words jiggawhat!